What a Toddler Really Hears When You Talk

There's no manual handed to you when you are discharged from the hospital. You, your spouse, and brand new baby are just wheeled out to your car with your cart full of gifts, overnight bags, and (hopefully) free goodies from your hospital room without any type of tangible reference guide telling you what to do if your baby won't stop crying at 3am. Thank goodness for Google!

But there is one thing that not even Google can help parents out with and that is determining what is going on in your toddler's head. I tell my two year old one thing and he does the exact opposite. It can be incredibly frustrating. Just recently, however, I came across the holy grail of translation books: Parent-Toddler Translation for Exasperated Parents. Here, for your reading pleasure is an excerpt of said book.

What you said: "No."
What your toddler heard: "I didn't hear that. Say it again, only louder."

Where to Take Young Kiddos for Halloween Fun

The leaves on the trees are starting to change colors, parents everywhere are high fiving each other as they drop their children off at school, and your mailboxes (both physical and virtual) are being filled with advertisements for Halloween costumes. It is safe to say that Halloween is going to be here before you know it.

Halloween can be a very scary time for some young children. When my daughter was younger, she thought the pale zombie girl on the swing, who sings in the most terrifying voice, was the most interesting thing she had every seen. "Mommy, will you go with me to see the girl on the swing" she'd ask and I'd reply with "nope, I'm good." Flash forward to the present and she is very concerned about seeing the scary "girl on the swing" who appears in our neighbor's front lawn, which closely resembles the Halloween decoration section at the local costume shop, every year. My, how two years can change one's perspective.

Taking pictures with sister can be so scary

So, that means haunted mazes and hay rides are out of the question, but that doesn't mean that we can't enjoy the Halloween season fun though. There is plenty in Orange County to do with little kids to celebrate the Halloween season (and get another wear out of that $50 costume).

Disneyland (and Mickey's Halloween Party)
Address: 1313 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim
Hours: varies per day, check website
Admission $99 for adults, $93 for children 3-9 years old, under 3 years old is free
(Mickey's Halloween Party tickets are $69 and up depending on the day)

Peek-a-boo with Minnie the Witch

Jump 'n Jammin

Address: Kaleidoscope Mall, 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy, Mission Viejo
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 10am-6pm, Friday & Saturday 10am-8pm
Ages: Crawling to teens
Admission: $12.95 for one child + one adult + one sibling under 2 years old, $5.49 for one toddler under 2 years old, $3 for an extra adult

There are so many reasons why I love this place. I have brought the kids here over a dozen times and each time, the play areas and bathrooms are clean. I often see employees in the play structures with a rag and what I can only assume to be some sort of disinfecting cleaner. It could just be water in that spray bottle. I'll give them the benefit of doubt. Also, there's something for every type of kid. My nephew was a little wary of the faster slides but loved the slide by the ball area since it was a lot slower. (It's so slow that you have to scooch yourself down near the end of the slide.) But if you've got an ambitious one, send him over to the rock climbing wall. It's more of horizontal rock climbing wall so you don't really have to worry about the kids going too high.

For younger kids, they put the "wristband" on the child's back

By far, though, the number one reason why I bring the kiddos here is that they cannot escape exit without you. With multiple kids, it can get a little difficult to keep an eye on all of them. With Jump 'n Jammin's system, you can rest assured that your child won't be walking down Crown Valley Parkway by himself. When you enter, you all are given a wristband with a matching number. The number corresponds with a bin that they provide for all of your shoes and belongings. The bin is kept safely tucked away until you are ready to exit. Once you decided that it is time to go (aka you've hit your limit), an employee, who is waiting at the exit gate, checks your wristbands and gives you your bin with your crap.

Jump 'n Jammin has it all.

Slides, obstacle courses, and more

What I Want My Friends Without Kids to Know

Before I started dating my husband, I spent every single weekend with my best friend. The minute 5 o'clock hit on Friday, I was on the road to Huntington Beach to pick up my bestie to get our weekend of partying started. We spent our nights in the local dive bar singing Journey songs at the top of our lungs with our vodka tonics in hand. She was my partner in crime.

She is the tall bff that every short girl needs, she's my Meredith to my Christina, she's my lady. Fast forward to the present, I have two kids and she has one furbaby. Life after children has placed our friendship not even on the back burner-it's in the back of the pantry. I am lucky if I get a 20 minute phone call conversation with her nowadays.

While we don't see each other nearly as often as we used to, she's still my lady. And here's six things I want her and every other friend without kids to know.

1. I REALLY am trying to listen to you 

I don't mean to be pre-occupied and distracted by my kiddos. I would love to relax on the couch and have an unlimited amount of time to dedicate to our conversation. Trust me, I really would. Unfortunately, that is just not the reality of my life right now. The majority of our phone calls take place when you're on your way home which is also the dreaded witching hour when I'm trying to get dinner on the table, soothe a cranky toddler, and battle with a fiesty four year old who thinks she's the boss. With everything that is going on, I don't mean to interrupt you or miss that last five minute chunk of your story. I do really want to hear about your last trip to San Francisco or your busy work week.

6 Questions Parents Never Stop Asking Themselves

It doesn't matter how many kids you have. It doesn't matter how old they are. You will always be asking these six questions.

1. What is that smell?
In the beginning, the smell may be coming from the hidden neck crease that is filled with day old breastmilk or from the week old squished strawberry that was left under the couch by your toddler.Years later when you ask that question, it may be due to the sweaty duffle bag containing your teenager's unwashed P.E. clothes even though school ended a week ago or maybe it's the mystery take out box that was left in your fridge by your forgetful daughter after her last date.

Fun at Pretend City in Irvine

Address: 29 Hubble, Irvine
Hours: 10am-5pm (closes at 1pm on Mondays)
Ages: Infants to 8 years old (I recommend walking to 6 years old)
Admission price: $12.50/per person (adults must pay admission, under 12 months are free)

Pretend City is one of my favorite places to take the kids. There's so much for the kids to do that we rarely get to everything in one visit. The toys and facility looks sparkly clean even though the place is crawling with grubby hands. But the best part is that there are volunteers everywhere returning the toys to their proper homes.

There are so many exhibits to explore and keep the kids busy.

Amphitheater

What kid doesn't want to be the center of attention on stage? There are usually costumes, props, and/or musical instruments available so that the kids can really get into it. My kids' favorite part is the sound and lighting panel. It's the perfect example of cause and effect. Push a button and something cool happens.

Parenting is...

...counting down until wine o' clock and bedtime

I love spending time with the kids. We have fun making random crafts out of whatever I have laying around the house, riding bikes while ringing all of the neighbors' doorbells to see who can come out to play, and playing with the 5.892 millions toys in the living room all at once; but by the afternoon, I'm done and cannot wait until I can relax with a glass of wine and watch a mindless tv show that is not on the Disney Junior channel.

...repeating yourself

Sometimes, or all of the time rather, I think it would be easier to just talk to the wall. "Hello? Hello? Is this thing on <tap, tap>?"

...wiping butts and faces (not in that order)

My daughter is potty trained but she cannot be trusted to wipe her booty just yet so I'm still on the hook for two clean booties not including my own. And there's the other end too. How can so much food end up around the mouth and so little food end up in the mouth?

Disneyland's Diamond Celebration

As if Disneyland couldn't get any more magical, Disneyland has been blinged out to the max to celebrate their 60th anniversary.

To help celebrate the diamond jubilee, Disneyland has debuted a new fireworks show and nighttime parade, "Paint the Night," and California Adventure revamped the "World of Color" show. And, of course, an array of bejeweled 60th anniversary merchandise has been added to store shelves and "special edition" food items has been added to park menus.

The celebration kicked off on Friday, May 22, 2015, with Disneyland's annual open-24-hour-you're-insane-to-go day. My cheapy pass was blocked off that day, but I did occasionally (or obsessively, if you ask my husband) check in on their live streaming cameras. To give you an idea of how hysterically ridiculous it was at the park, people were camping out the day before, Thursday, as early as 2pm; and the park was at full capacity by the early Friday afternoon causing Disneyland to shut its gates.

I did sneak away the following Monday night to check it out. Being that the kiddos are a little on the young side for a 9:30pm fireworks show, I haven't seen the fireworks in years so I was very anxious and excited to see how the new show. I arrived at the park at 6:30pm and Main Street was already full of visitors staking out their spots for the parade and fireworks show. Lucky for me, I was able to snag a seat right in front of the castle.

From left to right: Paint the Night Float with Peter Pan, Mach from Cars, Anna and Elsa

Quick and Easy Father's Day Gifts

Father's Day is June 21 this year!

Even though my husband and I don't exchange gifts for holidays or birthdays, I still like to do a little something for Father's Day from the kids. In years past, Father's Day has snuck up on me so I have had to obsessively search Pinterest to come up with a cute idea. This year, though, I'm ahead of the game. In case you're not, here are a few simple and cheap if not free ideas.

Pictures!
There are so many cute ideas of pictures for a Father's Day gift.

 I made the letters out of cardboard and painted them black. I used a white sheet as my backdrop. R was not into this photo shoot so it was a bit tricky, but we made it work. I just had to pay for the pictures and frame, which I probably bought with a 40% off coupon at Michael's.

Organizing the Chaos

First stop is the kitchen.
As a stay-at-home mom, the days can blend together so easily. I sometimes have a difficult time keeping track of what day it is and what's going on during the week. Of course, I use my calendar on my iPhone, but I still prefer something concrete to look at. In addition to needing something to keep me on track for the week, I had a lot of clutter hanging around my kitchen that needed homes.

Before I found this command center, we had our calendar and coupons on the side of the refrigerator and any mail that was deemed too important to throw out right away was just stacked on the kitchen counter. I bought the command center to help eliminate the unsightly pile of mail but it does so much more. This organizer has everything: a place for my calendar, two clear PVC packets that I use as "dry erase boards" and lots of storage pockets. I attached it to the back of my pantry door so I can have easy access to it but keep it out of sight when guests come over.

Here's how I modified it to fit my family.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

We took our children to their very first baseball game. Here's how it went.

Now, I will start this off by saying that I am not a big sports fan and you will never catch me watching any type of sport on the television at home unless someone (aka my dad) has changed the channel from the Food Network or Disney Junior to "the game." 

10 Things That Changed After Baby #2

I have always wanted two children. Two and done. One child for each hand. One child for each parent so we're not outnumbered. And here I am with my two wonderful children. As grateful I am, I can't help but think back to how simple life was with only one baby. Here's 10 ways life has totally changed after my second was born.

1. Snuggle time

Back when it was just K and me (and the cat), I spent hours just snuggling with her while she slept. I would just sit there and stare at her, breathing in her wonderful newborn smell. When R was born, there were no snuggle times to be had except for the times after the midnight feeding when everyone was asleep. I had a two year old who was in gymnastics, dance, and swim lessons. On top of that, I had errands to run, a house to keep in order, and mouths that preferred hot meals over cold cereal. Snuggle times with R weren't spent peacefully on the couch; they were spent with him asleep in the Ergobaby carrier strapped to me while I jugged daily life with a toddler.

Packing Lunch vs Buying Lunch at Disneyland

When we visit Disneyland and California Adventure, I usually pack all of our snacks and lunches. Every once in a while, I will just pack snacks and buy lunch there. I have friends who don't pack anything and buy everything in the park. That got me thinking. How much am I saving when I bring our own food and drinks?

I did a little research (and I mean little, so some of my prices are estimates) to find out how much it would cost to buy everything compared to how much it costs to bring it from home. I do the majority of my shopping at Ralph's (Kroger) but I also shop at Target and Costco. When I pack lunches, I usually don't pack a full lunch for myself since my kids don't ever eat all of their lunch so I eat their leftovers.

How to Beat the Heat at Disneyland

Let's face it. There's nothing worse than being at the Happiest Place on Earth with the other 40,000 people in 95 degree heat. Oh wait, there is...being there with two miserably hot toddlers. Here are some attractions that you can check out to help beat the heat.

Disneyland

Catch the Parade

Currently, the parade is Mickey's Soundsational Parade, but there is word that a new parade will make its debut for the 60th Anniversary Celebration. No matter what parade it is, kids love seeing their favorite characters pass by. It may be tough for the little ones to sit patiently for the parade to start so maybe grab a special treat to help distract them. I always try to find a shady spot close to the bathrooms. One thing to keep in mind is that the parade doesn't run every day so check the Entertainment Times Guide.

Watch a show

9 Perks of Having Young Children

1. There's no need to have an alarm clock

My alarm clock...thank goodness he's cute

There's nothing that gets me out of bed quicker than the fear of my four year old being woken up by "MMOOOOOMMMMMMMMYYYYYYY" screeching out of my two year old's mouth at 6 o'clock in the morning. My son is up at 6am, sometimes earlier like this morning, every single day...6:30am if I'm lucky.

2. You'll always have time to work out

Bubblefest (and Lego Travel Adventue) at the Discovery Cube

We just got back from the Discovery Cube in Santa Ana where we checked out the Bubblefest exhibit and the Lego Travel Adventure exhibit.

Let's start with the Bubblefest
The Bubblefest runs until April 15, 2015 and there is an additional $7/person admission fee to enter the Bubblefest area. General admission to the Discovery Cube is $16.95 for adults and $12.95 for children 3-14 years old. Children 2 years old and younger are free.

Mega Bubblefest Laser Show

The absolute best part of Bubblefest is the Mega Bubblefest Laser Show featuring Deni Yang, who is bubble scientist wizard extraordinaire. This guy is amazing! Bubbles in bubbles, "smoke" filled bubbles, splitting bubbles. Crazy, it's just crazy, what he can do. The kids are able to sit on the floor so they can be up close to the action. The show is about 45 minutes long but he definitely keeps the audience in amazement the entire time.

Children's Museum at La Habra

Address: 301 S. Euclid Street, La Habra

Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 1-5pm

Ages: Walking to elementary age

Admission: $8 per person, under 2 are free, $7 for La Habra residents

There was a Groupon for the Children's Museum at La Habra, so we decided to check it out. Here are the highlights.

1. Trains!

On our way from the parking lot to the entrance of the museum, we came across two rows of old, non-operating train cars complete with a passenger car and a caboose that you can enter. 

What to Pack for a Trip to Disneyland

You're getting ready to take the kiddos to the Happiest Place on Earth? What to bring, what to bring???

Here's what's in my backpack.

9 Reasons Stay At Home Moms Have the Hardest* Job Ever

I am asked way too often "what do you do all day" or some derivative of that. Now, the question holder doesn't mean harm nor does he mean to be offensive. It takes me a few seconds of mental coaching before I can open my mouth to answer. I usually just give a general description of my day, but it's plainly obvious that this person has NO clue what it's like to be a stay-at-home-mom.

6:00am: my son wakes up usually screaming "mommy"
6:02am: I glare angerily at the clock
6:05am: I leave my cozy bed and take my son downstairs
6:06am: I try to calm my son down as he throws a tantrum because the cup he wanted is dirty

Wait, wait.. This is not that kind of post.

Frozen Fun

Disneyland put a lot of time and effort (and money) to bring its most profitable movie to life. Here's what you need to know about Disney's new Frozen Fun.

California Adventure

For the First Time in Forever: A "Frozen" Sing-Along Celebration

If your little one (or you) loves to sing "Let It Go" at the top of her lungs, then this is a show that you cannot miss. You need to get a Fastpass and then return for the designated show time. While the majority of the show is two "historians" retelling the story of Elsa and Anna's journey in Frozen, the characters do make a brief appearance.

Flying Alone with Two Young Children

Last year, I decided to take a trip across the country from California to Ohio to visit family. Unfortunately, my husband was not able to join me so I had to make the trip on my own. Luckily, my parents were going to be in Ohio already so I would have some help once the plane landed. Here's how I got through the 4 1/2 hour flight with a three year old and a one year old by myself.

8 Easy and Cheap Frozen Themed Birthday Party Ideas

For my daughter's fourth birthday party, she requested a Frozen themed party. What? Shocker, I know. Being the crafty, Pinterest lover that I am, I immediately started pinning everything related to Frozen themed birthday parties.  Here are eight easy and cheap ideas for a Frozen themed birthday party that I found.

Two Disneyland Tickets for (practically) the Price of One!

Are you a Southern California resident (zip codes 90000-93599)? If the answer is yes, then you are eligible for the special offer going on right now for Disneyland tickets.

As you may have heard, Disneyland just raised their price to $99 for a one day/one park ticket.  Yikes! Well, here's one way you can get two days at a DEEP discount if you're a Southern California resident.

Right now, you can purchase a two day ticket valid for one park each day for $139 on Disneyland's website. What's the catch, you ask?

• You cannot go to both parks on the same day; but you can upgrade to a two day hopper ticket for $39 per ticket. 
• There is a blockout period between March 20 - April 4, 2015.
• You must complete both trips to Disneyland and/or California Adventure by May 21, 2015.
• You can buy a maximum of 5 tickets.

But wait, there's more. 

How to Survive Disneyland with Two Young Children

Being an annual passholder, we frequent Disneyland quite often. I am very fortunate to be a stay at home mom of two adorable kids, K who is 4 years old and R who is 2 years old. Since we only live half an hour away from Disneyland, we go three to four times a month. I've picked up a few handy tips for surviving what can be a fun but oh so hectic adventure.


1. Go as early as possible 
If your kids are anything like mine, you're already up at the crack at dawn anyway. Find out when the park opens as the opening hours can vary depending on the season and day of the week; and  keep in mind, the parking lots open an hour before the parks do. The park gets more crowded as the day goes on so going early will help avoid some of the lines. Also, if you want to ride the popular Radiator Springs Racers or meet Anna and Elsa, getting to the park early will help you secure one of the highly sought after FASTPASS tickets that can sell out within only a couple of hours after the park opens (a FASTPASS ticket is required to meet Anna and Elsa).